TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient Beach

We have now been on the Island for a few days.
Orient Village has a great selection of restaurants right around the corner from where we are staying.
Orient Beach is as beautiful as always. Just keep your eyes toward the ocean. Our understanding is that there is a meeting about Club O’s future in June. Cedric is doing a great job with managing the beach. We met Patou’s daughter who is working at Perch Lite.
There will be a float installed in the fall. Orient beach has more chairs filled by Club O than anywhere else on the beach. All of the beach balls are in play and we have had three days of running races. More to happen today.
carib cheers from our favorite island.
More later
doctorj

thanks for the report. Makes sense that Club O would have more chairs filled, considering the price is $20 a day versus $30 a day, right? Glad they are busy anyway.

Thanks buddy. Toss back a cold one for me

One thing I noticed on our visit in Febuary was that more taxis were dropping off people in the evening for dinner. So wondering if this is because of the condition of Grand Case or very good restaurants in the village? Maybe both reasons

Speaking of the condition of Grand Case, anyone know the current status of the main road? Still torn up? I noted in the Daily Herald the other day they were talking about some new work on water lines or something?

Thanks, doctorj, I always enjoy your updates. And I second everything you say re Cedric.

What are these beach balls and races I keep reading about on Orient? Anyone wanna fill me in lol?

Just a fun thing that doctor does when on island.

June meeting sounds promising... Thanks for the update!

We were going to drive through GC today coming back from Anse Marcel but traffic was so backed up with school getting out we didn't want to try and merge at the end to get back in line.

The beach ball races were run on the wet track yesterday. The third bottle of rum met it’s demise. Lot’s of laughs and good times. If you rent 2 chairs and umbrella from Cedric you can pay $120.00 for a week or the $20.00 per day. If you only hit the beach 6 days it makes no sense but you can save $20.00 if you have an extended stay.
Randy the cook at Papagayo is running Perch Lite. Care Four (sp) was a great stop for us when we arrived. Very well stocked . (Even Dunkin Donuts and Tito’s)
Great dining in the Village. Last night was Cote Plage.
Beautiful weather each day. The biggest rain event was maybe 15 minutes. The Island needs rain and is very brown.
Magpie,
I will oblige your request for the cold one/more.
carib cheers from our island everyone.
doctorj

Was it mussels night at Cote Plage last night. Always good. My favorite spot.

Yes it was!
Today the beach ball races went very well. Several happy horses finished the competition. It has been unbelievable that rum sponsors show daily and often they arrive before me and there is a new bottle waiting at the starting gate. The restaurants at Orient Village are back. Construction goes on continuously. Once ClubO gets a direction I feel confident that old times may return. In the meantime many long time friends reunite on Orient Beach.
carib cheers and safe travels to our dear friends departing on flights tomorrow.
doctorj

Awesome, we still have our balls and hopefully we I’ll blow them up and join you in the future. Why does my wife always smile when I read Dr J posts to her? Hmmm

Hi Carol

When we there in March we didn’t find the roadway in Grand Case particularly troublesome. Where we live nort of Boston it’s pretty common for roadwork for utility’s to be going on, so we felt right at home. 😎

Ted N Jan--thanks. I will find out for myself next month!

No, chairs and umbrellas are now $20 at Bikini and Kakao. They always lower them in the slow season. Just spent a wonderful 8 days on Orient and am heading to the airport in about 2 hours. Planning on walking down to Bikini for one more Banana Coloda before I leave.

OK, good news!!! Thanks!

Good to hear.

In answer to the poster wanting info of the road at GC. There last night, it has been widened in places and totally passable and useable. Parking is difficult if you want to be right outside a restaurant. Barranco the new waterside restaurant looks incredible as they have spent a fortune on this place. Heard service iffy and didn’t exactly get a welcome when we went into have a look.

Thanks, bran.

We had a lovely dinner there in March. We both had the steaks.

Was at Orient all morning. Looks so different with all the damage. Parked near Esmeralda and walked up to the area beyond the rock divider and rented a chair and umbrella , left after 2.5 hours and was charged only $10.00 dollars.
Then checked out the beach at Cupecoy. Stairs have been added to the first section , the section closest to What used to be Cupecoy Beach Club.
Beach looks good. Then ate at Mullet, great hot dog and fries, then had two pina colada’s at Sunset Bar and Grill ! Average size crowd, manageable. Then returned to Divi for my beauty nap and woke up in time to follow the Reds 10-2 victory over the Cubs in Chicago. The Cubs Kyle Schwarber graduated from my high school, and his father retired as Chief of police , Middletown , Ohio!
Knew his father, but did not meet Kyle.

Sounds like a great day, including the Reds win! I'm sure my mom was happy!!

Race sponsors today were Joanne and Rich. Thank you guys. We had a smaller field today but several races produced a ton of fun. The weather has been awesome and we wind up our last full day tomorrow. Progress is being made beach wise in front of Club O. The new food trailer arrived. Cedric is doing a great job on the beach and hats off to Perch Lite.
The crowds that filled the chairs are back. The dining in Orient Village is fantastic and has something for everyone. Bikini has appetizers from 4-8 nightly with dinner at 8. Last night brought us back to thinking about Calmos. Music played, children ran and played in the sand, and my wife and I sat beach side with a glass of wine. Bikini did a fabulous re-build.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Cannot believe it is time to head back to the States. To my good friends on Orient Thank you all for another great vacation.
Until next time,
carib cheers,
doctorj